Trailer Talk: ‘Prometheus’

Awards season has barely begun, but it isn’t too early to start thinking about 2012’s summer blockbusters. Especially when said blockbusters look as epic as “Prometheus,” director Ridley Scott’s next foray into sci-fi.

According to the official synopsis, “Prometheus” revolves around a group of explorers who discover the key to mankind’s existence on Earth, a discovery that leads them to a battle to save humanity’s future. But aside from the brief summary by 20th Century Fox, “Prometheus” has come to be known among sci-fi fans as “that movie that may or may not be an ‘Alien’ prequel.”

Back when the project was initially in development, it was conceived as a prequel/reboot to the “Alien” series. But as the project evolved, Scott said “Prometheus” had become an original story all its own. In January 2011, Scott told MTV, “While ‘Alien’ was indeed the jumping-off point for this project, out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place,” he said. “The keen fan will recognize strands of ‘Alien’ ‘s DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative. I couldn’t be more pleased to have found the singular tale I’d been searching for, and finally return to this genre that’s so close to my heart.”

But in subsequent months, interviews with the actors and writers couldn’t seem to mention “Prometheus” without mentioning the possible “Alien” link. In June, an interview with screenwriter Damon Lindelof began circulating which indicated that while “Prometheus” features different characters and a different story, it may take place within the same world.

Regardless, the brief footage that has been released so far has been amazing. The first trailer was the perfect tease, slowly revealing the title over visually stunning shots from the film. The trailer reveals nothing further about the story, but it was enough to get me pumped for the movie.

With Scott in the director’s chair, Lindelof (“Lost”) as one of the screenwriters and what has got to be one of the most talented/best looking casts (Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba are among those in the ensemble), “Prometheus” is one of my most-anticipated movies of 2012.